What is ISO 50001?
Effective energy management is not only good for business; it is also becoming a requirement: and the best way to achieve it is with ISO 50001. This international standard outlines energy management practices that are considered to be best practice globally and supports organisations in developing an energy management system (EnMS) with which to manage their energy use efficiently. Energy management experts from more than 60 countries developed the standard and now we can help you tap into that expertise, every day, to help you save energy, cut costs and meet environmental requirements.
An EnMS establishes the structure and discipline to implement technical and management strategies that significantly cut energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions—and sustain those savings over time. Savings can come from no- to low-cost operational improvements.
Benefits of implementing ISO 50001
For more information on the benefits of implementing ISO 50001, and case study examples, please follow the attachments in the side-bar.
Network Rail’s approach to ISO 50001
As Network Rail’s non-traction energy spend rises towards the £63m mark annually, the business will need to look at ways of managing the use of energy throughout its operations to control costs and meet its regulated energy and carbon reduction targets. The ISO 50001 standard provides the tools to guide effective energy management and the implementation of energy efficiency measures in a holistic manner.
The standard follows a continuous improvement process which involves creating a policy and setting targets based on available data prior to implementing energy saving measures. The resulting data retrieved from monitoring is then used to inform the process of continuous improvement within the system.
By implementing an Energy Management System, Network Rail could see a huge reduction in energy usage and consequently a reduction in carbon emissions and costs. The savings could therefore support other Route-based activities. Achieving this standard would not only help to identify and manage the risk associated with fluctuation in future energy prices, but it would also demonstrate Network Rail’s environmental credentials to its external customers.
We have prepared guidance and tools to help you in your journey through the ISO 50001 framework, and these can be found in the right hand menu. Please do get in touch and we can assist in guiding you through the process.
Useful links:
- International Organization for Standardization
- RSSB ‘achieving ISO50001 certification’ case study
Key contacts:
For general enquiries, please email sustainabledevelopment@networkrail.co.uk
For specific enquiries, please email Deon Robinson in the Energy Management Team.
